“Exploring new design and business opportunities in the well-being industry THROUGH breakthrough research and technology affecting the factors of human flourishing."

44% of Americans feel more stressed now than they did 5 years ago. 4 in 10 adults also feel that they are regularly ignored by someone too engrossed in their smartphone. It’s estimated that one in five Americans suffers from persistent loneliness and we’ve learned that low social interaction can be as bad for you as smoking 15 cigarettes a day. Stress- and loneliness-related illness cost the nation $300 billion last year in medical bills and lost productivity.

With a stress and loneliness epidemic on our hands, why are we confused that the United States ranks 13th on the World Happiness Report? Why are we okay with allowing the illusion of success and digital connectivity to undermine our health and our relationships—the two most critical factors in happiness?

Harvard Psychologist Shawn Achor has shown that "happy people are more successful, not the other way around." So why does our subjective well-being get sidelined in the race toward success—the times when we likely need to take care of it the most?

Why do we struggle to cope with big stressors and resort to self-medication through drugs, alcohol, television, or other escape methods? How do we take people from surviving to thriving? How might we help people experience more fulfillment in their lives? What would a community look like if we restructured and reprioritized our minds, spaces, and calendars to reflect a happier, more connected and resilient lifestyle?And, unlike your average EQUINOX membership, how might it be accessible to all?